Maximum for climbing Counties

Counties-Manukau saw off Northland 40-24 on Sunday in a win that sees them move to within one point of the sought-after top seven.

Counties-Manukau saw off Northland 40-24 in an strong display on Sunday that sees them move within just one point of the ITM Cup top seven.

In what was a carbon copy of earlier events at North Harbour Stadium, the hosts were left looking over their shoulders after a strong start.

Northland were 7-27 down at the break courtesy of the try bonus-point being picked up thanks to a fifteen-minute score blitz from Fritz Lee, Simon Lemalu, Taiasina Tuifua and Sherwin Stowers.

However, the Steelers were made to sweat after the break as their visitors added to Rhyan Caine's first-half try with another five-pointer from the scrum-half before flank Dean Budd crossed to throw some doubt into Counties' minds.

But they held off the challenge and with it kept their top-seven hopes alive as an intercept try from Ahsee Tuala put the icing on the cake.